Is choosing organic food important?

A poster in another thread stated that she purposefully does not buy organic for reasons I hope she explains here. I know some are adamant about organic and I am somewhere in the middle.I choose farm foods for the most part and organic dairy. It is easy to come by ranch meats (I am careful to avoid ranches that commonly utilize hormones in their livestock) here and the cost difference of no-gmo and semi-organic produce is negligible.

My question is whether organic or semi-organic is important to you and why. My second question is, is it better to non-organic and avoid processed foods if organic is not feasible. Here is an article from RedBook for informational purposes. Feel free to post your own articles to back your opinions.

"The organic-food business is booming: About 70 percent of Americans buy
organic food occasionally, and nearly one quarter buy it every week,
according to the Hartman Group, a market research firm. For most of us,
the reason is simple: We want natural food that's better for us and for
the environment, says Samuel Fromartz, author of Organic, Inc. But buying organic can cost you — as much as 50 percent more — so read on to know when it's worth it.

What is organic food, anyway?
Though organic food can be produced with certain synthetic ingredients,
it must adhere to specific standards regulated by the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Crops are generally grown without
synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation (a form of
radiation used to kill bacteria), or biotechnology. Animals on organic
farms eat organically grown feed, aren't confined 100 percent of the
time (as they sometimes are on conventional farms), and are raised
without antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.

Is organic food better for me?
Organic foods may have higher nutritional value than conventional food,
according to some research. The reason: In the absence of pesticides and
fertilizers, plants boost their production of the phytochemicals
(vitamins and antioxidants) that strengthen their resistance to bugs and
weeds. Some studies have linked pesticides in our food to everything
from headaches to cancer to birth defects — but many experts maintain
that the levels in conventional food are safe for most healthy adults.
Even low-level pesticide exposure, however, can be significantly more
toxic for fetuses and children (due to their less-developed immune
systems) and for pregnant women (it puts added strain on their already
taxed organs), according to a report by the National Academy of
Sciences.

Pesticide contamination isn't as much of a concern in meats and dairy
products (animals may consume some pesticides, depending on their diet),
but many scientists are concerned about the antibiotics being
given to most farm animals: Many are the same antibiotics humans rely
on, and overuse of these drugs has already enabled bacteria to develop
resistance to them, rendering them less effective in fighting infection,
says Chuck Benbrook, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Organic Center, a
nonprofit research organization.

Is buying organic better for the environment?
Organic farming reduces pollutants in groundwater and creates richer
soil that aids plant growth while reducing erosion, according to the
Organic Trade Association. It also decreases pesticides that can end up
in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have
been measured at unsafe levels for weeks at a time, according to an
analysis performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). (To find
out about the safety of your tap water, visit the EWG website at ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater.) Plus, organic farming used 50 percent less energy than conventional farming methods in one 15-year study.

When is it worth the splurge?
If you can afford it, buy local and organic, recommends Fromartz.
Farmers' markets carry reasonably priced locally grown organic and
conventional food; to find one in your area, go to localharvest.org.
If you can't always afford organic, do spend the extra money when it
comes to what the EWG calls the "dirty dozen": peaches, strawberries,
nectarines, apples, spinach, celery, pears, sweet bell peppers,
cherries, potatoes, lettuce, and imported grapes. These fragile fruits
and vegetables often require more pesticides to fight off bugs compared
to hardier produce, such as asparagus and broccoli. Download a list of
produce ranked by pesticide contamination at foodnews.org, an EWG website.

When shopping for organic foods, always look for the USDA seal
on any kind of packaged food. For meat and dairy, this seal ensures
you're getting antibiotic- and hormone-free products. When buying meat
or produce that isn't packaged, look for a sign stating that it's
organic, or ask the store clerk."

A poster in another thread stated that she purposefully does not buy organic for reasons I hope she explains here. I know some are adamant about organic and I am somewhere in the middle.I choose farm foods for the most part and organic dairy. It is easy to come by ranch meats (I am careful to avoid ranches that commonly utilize hormones in their livestock) here and the cost difference of no-gmo and semi-organic produce is negligible.

My question is whether organic or semi-organic is important to you and why. My second question is, is it better to non-organic and avoid processed foods if organic is not feasible. Here is an article from RedBook for informational purposes. Feel free to post your own articles to back your opinions.

"The organic-food business is booming: About 70 percent of Americans buy
organic food occasionally, and nearly one quarter buy it every week,
according to the Hartman Group, a market research firm. For most of us,
the reason is simple: We want natural food that's better for us and for
the environment, says Samuel Fromartz, author of Organic, Inc. But buying organic can cost you — as much as 50 percent more — so read on to know when it's worth it.

What is organic food, anyway?
Though organic food can be produced with certain synthetic ingredients,
it must adhere to specific standards regulated by the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Crops are generally grown without
synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation (a form of
radiation used to kill bacteria), or biotechnology. Animals on organic
farms eat organically grown feed, aren't confined 100 percent of the
time (as they sometimes are on conventional farms), and are raised
without antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.

Is organic food better for me?
Organic foods may have higher nutritional value than conventional food,
according to some research. The reason: In the absence of pesticides and
fertilizers, plants boost their production of the phytochemicals
(vitamins and antioxidants) that strengthen their resistance to bugs and
weeds. Some studies have linked pesticides in our food to everything
from headaches to cancer to birth defects — but many experts maintain
that the levels in conventional food are safe for most healthy adults.
Even low-level pesticide exposure, however, can be significantly more
toxic for fetuses and children (due to their less-developed immune
systems) and for pregnant women (it puts added strain on their already
taxed organs), according to a report by the National Academy of
Sciences.

Pesticide contamination isn't as much of a concern in meats and dairy
products (animals may consume some pesticides, depending on their diet),
but many scientists are concerned about the antibiotics being
given to most farm animals: Many are the same antibiotics humans rely
on, and overuse of these drugs has already enabled bacteria to develop
resistance to them, rendering them less effective in fighting infection,
says Chuck Benbrook, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Organic Center, a
nonprofit research organization.

Is buying organic better for the environment?
Organic farming reduces pollutants in groundwater and creates richer
soil that aids plant growth while reducing erosion, according to the
Organic Trade Association. It also decreases pesticides that can end up
in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have
been measured at unsafe levels for weeks at a time, according to an
analysis performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). (To find
out about the safety of your tap water, visit the EWG website at ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater.) Plus, organic farming used 50 percent less energy than conventional farming methods in one 15-year study.

When is it worth the splurge?
If you can afford it, buy local and organic, recommends Fromartz.
Farmers' markets carry reasonably priced locally grown organic and
conventional food; to find one in your area, go to localharvest.org.
If you can't always afford organic, do spend the extra money when it
comes to what the EWG calls the "dirty dozen": peaches, strawberries,
nectarines, apples, spinach, celery, pears, sweet bell peppers,
cherries, potatoes, lettuce, and imported grapes. These fragile fruits
and vegetables often require more pesticides to fight off bugs compared
to hardier produce, such as asparagus and broccoli. Download a list of
produce ranked by pesticide contamination at foodnews.org, an EWG website.

When shopping for organic foods, always look for the USDA seal
on any kind of packaged food. For meat and dairy, this seal ensures
you're getting antibiotic- and hormone-free products. When buying meat
or produce that isn't packaged, look for a sign stating that it's
organic, or ask the store clerk."

I choose organic, we shop at whole foods, trader joes and farmers markets. Trader joes organic fresh food is a few cents more. I do it cause I want my family to have the best chance possible for health. Also when it comes to meat I want the best. Genetically modified food is close to worthless to me. Some people care others don't. I care, I believe pesticides cause bad health problems

I choose organic, we shop at whole foods, trader joes and farmers markets. Trader joes organic fresh food is a few cents more. I do it cause I want my family to have the best chance possible for health. Also when it comes to meat I want the best. Genetically modified food is close to worthless to me. Some people care others don't. I care, I believe pesticides cause bad health problems

There are some foods that absorb more of the chemicals in pesticides and fertilizer than others. My garden is organic but organic produce that I purchase can get expensive. I go by the general primes is that if it has a skin or peel that I will be discarding, it's not as critical if I buy organic. Organic meat can get extremely expensive so I try to stick to meat I know is hormone and steroid free.

There are some foods that absorb more of the chemicals in pesticides and fertilizer than others. My garden is organic but organic produce that I purchase can get expensive. I go by the general primes is that if it has a skin or peel that I will be discarding, it's not as critical if I buy organic. Organic meat can get extremely expensive so I try to stick to meat I know is hormone and steroid free.

I think obviously the most important thing is to stay away from heavily processed foods. If you can't afford organic, it's stillBest to not feed yourself or your child a bunch of processed junk. Best advice? Stay away from the middle of the grocery store and do most of your shopping on the outter edges (fruit veggies meat and dairy sections) get rolled oats instead of instant and cook at home (add a little butter and honey for sweetness if you like or brown sugar and berries are delicious too!) make your own biscuits (it really is easy!) and you can use whole wheat flour! Make cakes from scratch-again not difficult and a lot better than the boxed mixes. Instead of buying frozen waffles/pancakes make them yourself and make extra and freeze them with a little parchment paper between them. Write the date on um and they should be good for a couple of months at least! And you can heat themIn the same way you would the ore packaged kind!

I think obviously the most important thing is to stay away from heavily processed foods. If you can't afford organic, it's stillBest to not feed yourself or your child a bunch of processed junk. Best advice? Stay away from the middle of the grocery store and do most of your shopping on the outter edges (fruit veggies meat and dairy sections) get rolled oats instead of instant and cook at home (add a little butter and honey for sweetness if you like or brown sugar and berries are delicious too!) make your own biscuits (it really is easy!) and you can use whole wheat flour! Make cakes from scratch-again not difficult and a lot better than the boxed mixes. Instead of buying frozen waffles/pancakes make them yourself and make extra and freeze them with a little parchment paper between them. Write the date on um and they should be good for a couple of months at least! And you can heat themIn the same way you would the ore packaged kind!

There are organic pesticides that are just as harmful as inorganic ones. I would happily eat from my garden, which is technically not organic because I use a small bit of "starter plus" on my seedlings, before I trust the word "organic" on any label. We also couldn't feed the world with only organic produce, GM grain has made it so we could feed a billion more people by making grains able to grow in previous inhospitable environments.

There are organic pesticides that are just as harmful as inorganic ones. I would happily eat from my garden, which is technically not organic because I use a small bit of "starter plus" on my seedlings, before I trust the word "organic" on any label. We also couldn't feed the world with only organic produce, GM grain has made it so we could feed a billion more people by making grains able to grow in previous inhospitable environments.

I buy organic and local as much as possible. If conventional produce looks fresher, I will buy it occasionally if it's not one of the dirty dozen. It's not just health concerns, but the organic produce looks so much better. I don't buy much meat, but pay for how it was raised. I also buy pasture raised eggs, and there is a huge difference in taste there. Two of my immediate neighbors have chickens, but don't share even though I often can hear the chickens inside my house. In TX, I go to Whole Foods, Central Market, and HEB for staples. I don't use poisons or pesticides in my house or garden/yard either. The land our house is on, water seeps into the aquifer.

I buy organic and local as much as possible. If conventional produce looks fresher, I will buy it occasionally if it's not one of the dirty dozen. It's not just health concerns, but the organic produce looks so much better. I don't buy much meat, but pay for how it was raised. I also buy pasture raised eggs, and there is a huge difference in taste there. Two of my immediate neighbors have chickens, but don't share even though I often can hear the chickens inside my house. In TX, I go to Whole Foods, Central Market, and HEB for staples. I don't use poisons or pesticides in my house or garden/yard either. The land our house is on, water seeps into the aquifer.

On eggs:I was raised on pasture eggs and buy from my local farmers market. I bought some from the store one time and thought they were bad because they looked so weird. Hubs informed me that they were 'normal' but they tasted awful to me. The difference was like the difference between smelling florist flowers and those that grow in one of my gardens.

On eggs:I was raised on pasture eggs and buy from my local farmers market. I bought some from the store one time and thought they were bad because they looked so weird. Hubs informed me that they were 'normal' but they tasted awful to me. The difference was like the difference between smelling florist flowers and those that grow in one of my gardens.

Some people look at the social aspects of organic food. Organic produce generally yields about 1/3 less than conventional produce. There isn't enough food in the world to feed everyone, so to some it can seem selfish to choose foods that produce less. Also, many pesticides/fertilizers are hydrophilic and therefore will not stay in our bodies like some of the old ones used to. There are impacts when they are used though for sure and some foods absorb them more readily than others.

Some people look at the social aspects of organic food. Organic produce generally yields about 1/3 less than conventional produce. There isn't enough food in the world to feed everyone, so to some it can seem selfish to choose foods that produce less. Also, many pesticides/fertilizers are hydrophilic and therefore will not stay in our bodies like some of the old ones used to. There are impacts when they are used though for sure and some foods absorb them more readily than others.

According to the UN's World Food Programme (on phone, article called 11 Myths about World Hunger) there IS enough food in the world to feed everyone. That's a common fallacy. It just needs to be more fair in the access and distribution of this food. Local farmers all over the world are an important part of this process, so I think growing organically on these small scales can fit it with the goal of ending world hunger. We don't need to pollute and eat poison to eat ethically. Also, it also makes me think that there is an amazing amount of food wasted for no good reason in industrialized countries. Food never eaten is food that might as well not have been grown.

According to the UN's World Food Programme (on phone, article called 11 Myths about World Hunger) there IS enough food in the world to feed everyone. That's a common fallacy. It just needs to be more fair in the access and distribution of this food. Local farmers all over the world are an important part of this process, so I think growing organically on these small scales can fit it with the goal of ending world hunger. We don't need to pollute and eat poison to eat ethically. Also, it also makes me think that there is an amazing amount of food wasted for no good reason in industrialized countries. Food never eaten is food that might as well not have been grown.

I don't think it is as important as many believe it to be. I currently do not keep organic fruits/veggies/meats because my mother frequently stays with us . My mom is immunosuppressed from cancer treatment. She cannot have organic produce because it is too risky for her. Organic pesticides can contain bacteria that are deadly for sick or immunocompromised individuals. One such example- in the 90s, the bacteria cepacia was used as a fungicide for organic onions. Unfortunately this created an epidemic of cepacia infection for people with cystic fibrosis... A deadly result. I've also worked with a family taken to court over their refusal to stop giving their daughter only organic foods... She was chronically ill and immunosuppressed, as well as malnourished. The organic diet was such a danger to her and was making her even more sick. It was terrible, eventually the state won... The girl ended up going to heaven not too long after. (she would've anyway, not saying her diet killed her, but it did make her sicker)Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts from a less common point of view.

I don't think it is as important as many believe it to be. I currently do not keep organic fruits/veggies/meats because my mother frequently stays with us . My mom is immunosuppressed from cancer treatment. She cannot have organic produce because it is too risky for her. Organic pesticides can contain bacteria that are deadly for sick or immunocompromised individuals. One such example- in the 90s, the bacteria cepacia was used as a fungicide for organic onions. Unfortunately this created an epidemic of cepacia infection for people with cystic fibrosis... A deadly result. I've also worked with a family taken to court over their refusal to stop giving their daughter only organic foods... She was chronically ill and immunosuppressed, as well as malnourished. The organic diet was such a danger to her and was making her even more sick. It was terrible, eventually the state won... The girl ended up going to heaven not too long after. (she would've anyway, not saying her diet killed her, but it did make her sicker)Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts from a less common point of view.

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